Expansible band with detachable links



June 16, 1.964 1 PoMPEo EXPANSIBLE BAND WITH DETACHABLE LINKS Filed July 17, 1961 dmlwllh @Li-QU United States Patent 3,137,123 EXPANSELE BAND WITH DETACHABLE LINKS Louis Pompeo, Bloomfield, NJ., assignor to Duchess Jewelry Mfg. Corp., Hoboken, NJ., a corporation of New York Filed July 17, 1961, Ser. No. 125,056 Claims. (Cl. 59-79) This invention relates to an expansible band with detachable links. More particularly, the invention pertains to a ilexible contractile set of pivotally interconnected links which is adapted to be used as a wristwatch strap, bracelet or the like and which is characterized by the ready detachability of one or more of its endmost links.

It has been proposed heretofore to make bands of this type in order to enable a retail jeweler to keep a smaller stock on hand. A single such band which will iit a maximum girth of wrist can be custom fitted to smaller wrists by removing an appropriate number of endmost links. However, previous bands of this character either had unduly intricate mechanical structures which were too costly to make or included detachable coupling means which were not suiciently secure or needed an unusual degree of manual dexterity for removal of endmost links.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a band of the character described which is not subject to the foregoing drawbacks.

-It is another object of the present invention to provide a band of the character described which is extremely simple to make, requiring only slight changes in conventional bracelet dies, and which therefore lends itself to manufacture at no increased cost save for the die alteratio-ns.

I-t is another object of the present invention to provide a Y band of the character described from which endmost links can be detached speedily without the use of special tools and without requiring a high degree of manual dexterity.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a band of the character described in which the detachable coupling means for enabling `the endmost links to be removed is barely noticeable so that to all outward aspects the band appears to be conventional.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a band ofthe character described in which the detachable coupling means for the endmost links does not affect the styling, i.e., shape, of the links so that the invention can be used in conjunction with bands of any design.

It isanother object of the present invention to provide a band of the character described which does not increase the size or number of parts of the band.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a band of the character described in which the detachable coupling means for the endmost links can not be operated by changing the relative positions of the links or by pressing the links in a special way so that it is not possible, under any circumstances, for the links to become accidentally uncoupl-ed.

. Other objects of the invention in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

f The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the wrist band hereinafter described, and of which thescope of application willbe indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 1 vis a top plan View of a segment of an end of a wrist band constructed in accordance with the present invention, the endmost top link and portions of the endmost bottom links being removed in order to better illustrate the new structure;

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FIG. 2 is an enlarged edge View of the band segment shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views taken substantially along the lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of FIG. l; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the removal of an endmost pair of cross-links.

The present invention is useful in connection with any type of expansible band, e.g. bracelet or wristwatch strap, in which links of a set are pivotally interconnected to one another and in which the individual links are in the shapes of hollow boxes. There are two generally used expansible bands of this description. One of these is of the so-called X type and basically/.comprises 'a toggle or pantograph. The other is of the so-called V type and in it each link is pivotally joined to other links solely at the ends thereof. Inasmuch as the X type band is the most prevalent the instant invention will be described with respect thereto.

j In the drawings the reference numeral 10 denotes a band embodying the present invention. Saidband consists of a series of top links 12 and a series of bottom links 14. Each top link is pivotally connected at its center to the center of an aiiiliated bottom link to form what is referred to herein as a cross-link. The top and bottom links have the usual configuration, that is to say, the top links are `straight and extend perpendicular to the length of the band, whereas the bottom links are of modilied Z shape and are inclined to the longitudinal axis of the band.

More particularly, each top link consists of a top liner 16 and a top shell 18. Each bottom link consists of a bottom liner 20 and a bottom shell 22. Each liner and its associated shell are interconnected to provide a hollow box link.

The top and bottom liners are made from an inexpensive sheet material and are generally flat with an exception which will be hereinafter noted. Inasmuch as Vthe liners are to a large degree concealed except when the band is extensively stretched, said liners need not bev ornamented or heavily plated-and can even be made from common steel although desirably they are at least slightly plated or made from stainless steel in order to `inhibit formation of rust marks.

The straight flat top liner 16 is formed with a pair of indentations in each of its long side edges for a purpose which soon will be apparent. The Z shaped ilat bottom liner 20 includes a central portion 24 terminating in oppositely outwardly sloped oblique portions 26, 28 which run into oppositely oiset stub terminal portions 30, 32. Both the central portion 24 and the oppositely oiset terminal portions 30, 32 are perpendicular to the length of the band and are also parallel to the lengths of the top liners 16. Each offset oblique portion 26 is provided on the opposite edges thereof with indentations 34 similar to the indentations above mentioned in the top liner 16` and for the same purpose. As thus far described the top and bottom liners are entirely conventional.

The top shell 18 associated with each top liner is provided for ornamental purposes and conceals the top liner and the ends of a spring (not shown) which is used to bias each cross-link into contracted condition. Essentially, the top shell is an inverted sheet Imetal tray the exterior surface of which is Yarranged to have some suit,- able design. Basically the top shell constitutes a top wall 36, side ilanges 38 and end flanges 40. The side and end anges are in'one piece with the top wall and either may be bent to lie at right angles thereto or can be formed by drawing. The top shell thus, in effect, constitutes a hollow elongated box having an open lower mouth which is closed by the top liner. In order to hold the top liner to the top shell the side flanges of the top shell include integral tabs 42 which are received in the indentations in the side edges of the top liner and the tips of which are bent to underlie the lower face of the top liner so that each top liner is captively locked to its associated top shell and closes the downwardly facing mouth thereof. The top liner is spaced from the Atop wall 36'by the side and end flanges so that the interior of the box thus provided is hollow. Y

In a similar fashion each bottom shell includes a sheet metal bottom wall 44 having in one piece therewith side flanges 46 and end flanges 48. The side and end flanges of the bottom shell cooperate with the bottom wall 44 to form a hollow elongated vbox-like shape having an upwardly facing mouth which is closed by the bottom liner 20. The bottom liner is locked to the bottom shell by tabs 50 integral with the side flanges 46, received in the indentations 34, extending over the side edges of the bottom liner at the oblique portion 26 thereof and tur-ned in to overlie the upper surface of the bottom liner as is seen clearly, for example, in FIG. 1. Additional locking tabs 51 may be included to overlie the offset terminal portions 30, 32. Thus each bottom liner and bottom shell Vforms a hollow elongated box. tion of the bottomlner, ie., it is of modified Z shape. As thus far described the construction of the top and bottom shells and the manner in which they are interlocked with the topl and bottom liners is conventional.

The top and bottom links of the band are pivotally interconnected at the centers and ends of the links as with hollow rivets to form a pivotally interconnected series of pivoted crosslinks. Large rivets 52 are used for the central pivots and smaller rivets 54 are used for the end pivots. In a conventional expansible band (no removable links) the rivets extend through complete (360) openings formed at the ends and centers of the top and bottom liners so as to secure the normal non-detachable toggle or pantograph construction; and indeed in an expansible band embodying the present invention it is Said box has the plan coniguraconvenient to interconnect all the top and bottom liners except a few, eg. five, endmost pairs of liners in this fashion. In FIG. 1, for example, the links at the left hand side of the segment of the band are pivotally interconnected in such a permanent (non-detachable) manner. To disengage links thus connected the pivots or the links must be destroyed. Y

However, the endmost cross-links, these constituting the three right hand cross-links shown in FIG. 1, are modified in accordance with the present invention to permit one or more pivotally connected sets (cross-links) of top and bottom links to be detached from the band so as to shorten -the same. Referring then to these endmost links, each bottom link 14 is permanently pivotally connected at its center to its associated top link by a hollow large rivet 56. Said rivet passes through complete openings in the top and bottom liners and the ends of the rivet are headed, e.g., or spun or peened, whereby the rivet is non-detachably secured in place and yet permits relative rotation of the two liners of the cross-link and therefore ofthe top and bottom links in part formed by said liners. The heads of the rivets are within the box-like links, being concealed by the top and bottom shells. Said heads rest on the upper surface of the upper liner and the lower surface of the lower liner. In order to space apart somewhat the two liners of the cross-link so as to prevent interference, one` of the liners, eg., the bottom liner, is formed with a raised rib 58 which bears against the facing surface of the top liner.

The ends of the top and bottom links of each crosslink are secured to the ends of the top and bottom links of the adjacent cross-link by hollow small rivets 60, similar to the end rivets 54 used for the nondetachably connected links of the mainpart of the band. Each such end rivet 60 pivotally interconnects an end of a bottom liner of one cross-link to the overlying end of the top liner of rivet is non-detachably captive.

the adjacent cross-link. This pivotal connection is, pursuant to the present invention, detachable.

To pivotally receive the rivet 60 the top liner is formed at each end with the usual complete opening in which said However the bottom liner instead of being formed with a complete opening is shaped to provide a notch 62 at each end, that is to say,

an incomplete opening or aperture which in addition to extending between the top and bottom faces of the liner communicates with anedge of the liner through a throat 64 wide enough to pass the shank of the end rivet 60.

The ends of the rivets 60 are headed so that they are captively received Within the hollow elongated boxes constituted by the top and bottom links. The rivets are permanently retained within the openings in the top liner as noted above; but the rivets are retained in the notches 62 in the bottom liner only by the end flanges 48 which block the ends of the throats 64 when said anges are in their normal erect positions. In FIG. 3, for instance, it will be apparent that the headv of the end rivet 60 butts against the end flange 48 so that it is held in the notch 62 and can not escape therefrom through the throat 64.

To recapitulate, in the new construction, the central rivets 56 of the detachable links permanently interconnect the upper to the lower link of each pair of cross-links while on the other hand, the end rivets 60 connect the ends of each pair of cross-links to one another in a permanent fashion only so long as the end flange 4S is in its normal position perpendicular to and extending between the bottom liner 14 and the bottom wall 44 of the bottom shell 22.

In order to enable the cross-links to be detached each end frange 48 that cooperates with a bottom liner 20 having a notch 62 with a throat 64 is so arranged that by bending it can be deformed from its normal erect position in which it holds a rivet 66 captive in a bottom link. For such purpose each such end flange 43 is formed with a pair ofvertical slits 66 that extend from the upper edge of the bottom shell to adjacent the bottom wall 44. The material of the bottom shell is metal which is sufficiently malleable when of thin sheet stock (often including precious metals), as is the custom for bottom shells, to be bent away from its aforesaid normal erect position with the aid of a simple tool such as a pair of pliers. When the end flange is swung `away from its said erect position shown in FIG. 3 to an outwarrdly extending horizontal position as shown in FIG. 4 it will open (unblock) the end of theV throat 64 in the bottom liner and enable the end'rivet 60 to be slid out of the notch 62 along with the top liner to which it is permanently pivotally secured thus uncoupling the previous pivotal connection provided by said rivet between the ends of the top and bottom links of adjacent cross-links. After the end flanges 48 in the bottom links associated with the rivets 60 at the connected ends of the endmost cross-link are thus swung out the pivotally connected pair of endmost top and bottom links (the endmost cross-link) can be disengaged from the band by sliding said rivets 60 out of the now opened throats 64. This action is illustrated by the arrow A in 1BIG. 3. In other words, by swinging out the proper end flanges 48 as many cross-links as desired can be detached from one or both ends of the band so as to shorten the band to the proper length required for a particular customers wrist.

It will be apparent that when any particular pair of cross-links is disengaged from the band a pair of endmost rivets 60 will be detached with the disengaged top link. Thereafter the extending flange 48 remaining at the end of the band is reerected and the then endmost cross-link of the band coupled in the usual fashion to a pintle fitting.

It will be appreciated that in the detached one or more pivotally interconnected pairs of top and bottom links (cross-links)A it is not necessary to disengage associated liners and shells from one another; these are all handled as integral units. rIt also will be clear that it is not possible to accidentally uncouple any endmost links but that on the other hand very little manual dexterityor skill is needed to swing out a proper pair of end flanges 43, slide out the previously held rivets 60 and thereafter reclose the Y ilange 48.

it should be mentioned that although in the band shown and described the throats and blocking anges are in the bottom links, this is merely a matter of convenience and design, i.e., the slits 66 are less knoticeable in the bottom links. Therefore the present invention should not be thus restricted and, if desired, the blocking anges and notches maybe incorporated in the top links only, or in both bottom and top links although the latter is not necessary. Y

It thus will be seen that there is provided a band which achieves the several objects of this invention and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical USE.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood i that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accomhollow box, said pivotal connection comprising a notch in one liner having a throat extending to an edge of the linerga section of said peripheral ange being adjacent and normally blocking said throat, a pivot member connected to the other liner and pivotally received in said notch, said pivot member having an enlarged head located between the notched liner and its associated shell, said head cooperating with the section of the flange adjacent and blocking the throat to retain the pivot member in the notch, said throat being suiiiciently wide to pass the pivot member laterally, said adjacent and blocking flange section being readily bendable to permit the flange to be bent away from said throat to open the same without separating the shellfrom the liner when it is desired to slide the pivot member out of the notch so as to uncouple the pivotal connection between the two links.

2. A detachable pivotal connection between two links A voi an expansion band wherein at least one of the links comprises a liner and a shell locked to the liner and wherein said shell includes a wall remote from the liner and at least one peripheral ilange substantially perpenjacent and normally blocking said throat, a pivot member connected to the other link and pivotally received in said notch, said pivot member having an enlarged head located between the notched liner and its associated shell, said head cooperating with the section of the ange adjacent and blocking the throat to retain the pivot member in the notch, saidthroat being suiciently wide to pass the pivot member laterally, Ysaid adjacent and blocking ange section being readily bendable to permit the flange to be bent away from said throat to open the same without separating the shell from the liner when it is desired to slide the pivot member out of the notch so as to uncouple the pivotal connection between the two links.

3. A pivotal connection as set forth in claim 2 wherein the portion of the flange that retains the pivot member in the notch is separated from the remainder of the flange.

4. A pivotal connection as set forth in claim 2 wherein the portion of the ange that retains the pivot member in the notch is separated by slits from the remainder of the flange.

5. A detachable pivotal connection between adjoining pairs of crossed pantographic links wherein each pair of cross-links includes an upper link and a lower link permanently pivotally connected at their centers and wherein each lower link includes a liner and a shell locked to the liner, the shell constituting a wall remote from the liner and at least one peripheral ange substantially perpendicular to said liner extending from said wall toward the liner and secured thereto so that each such liner and shell constitutes a hollow box, certain of said lower links having at the ends thereof pivotal connections each of which comprises a notch in the liner having a throat extending to an edge of the liner, a section of said peripheral flange being adjacent and normally blocking said throat, a pivot member connected to the associated top link and pivotally received in said notch, said pivot member having an enlarged head located between the notched liner and the associated shell, said head cooperating with the section of the flange adjacent and blocking the throat to retain the pivot member in the notch, said throat being sufficiently wide to pass the pivot member laterally, said adjacent and blocking flange section being readily bendable to permit the flange to be bent away from said throat to open the same without separating the shell from the liner when it is desired to slide the pivot member out of the notch so as to uncouple the pivotal connection to the top link.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A DETACHABLE PIVOTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN TWO LINKS OF AN EXPANSION BAND WHEREIN EACH OF SAID LINKS COMPRISES A LINER AND A SHELL LOCKED TO THE LINER AND WHEREIN EACH SHELL INCLUDES A WALL PARALLEL TO THE LINER AND AT LEAST ONE PERIPHERAL FLANGE SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID LINER EXTENDING FROM SAID WALL TOWARD THE LINER AND SECURED THERETO SO THAT EACH LINER AND SHELL CONSTITUTES A HOLLOW BOX, SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTION COMPRISING A NOTCH IN ONE LINER HAVING A THROAT EXTENDING TO AN EDGE OF THE LINER, A SECTION OF SAID PERIPHERAL FLANGE BEING ADJACENT AND NORMALLY BLOCKING SAID THROAT, A PIVOT MEMBER CONNECTED TO THE OTHER LINER AND PIVOTALLY RECEIVED IN SAID NOTCH, SAID PIVOT MEMBER HAVING AN ENLARGED HEAD LOCATED BETWEEN THE NOTCHED LINER AND ITS ASSOCIATED SHELL, SAID HEAD 